saltatory spasm

  • 1Saltatory spasm — Saltatory Sal ta*to ry, a. [L. saltatorius. See {Saltant}, and cf. {Saltire}.] Leaping or dancing; having the power of, or used in, leaping or dancing. [1913 Webster] {Saltatory evolution} (Biol.), a theory of evolution which holds that the… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2saltatory spasm — clonic spasm of the muscles of the lower limbs, producing a peculiar jumping or springing motion, seen in conditions such as Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, saltatory chorea, and the jumping diseases. Called also Bamberger disease, dancing spasm …

    Medical dictionary

  • 3Saltatory — Sal ta*to ry, a. [L. saltatorius. See {Saltant}, and cf. {Saltire}.] Leaping or dancing; having the power of, or used in, leaping or dancing. [1913 Webster] {Saltatory evolution} (Biol.), a theory of evolution which holds that the transmutation… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4Saltatory evolution — Saltatory Sal ta*to ry, a. [L. saltatorius. See {Saltant}, and cf. {Saltire}.] Leaping or dancing; having the power of, or used in, leaping or dancing. [1913 Webster] {Saltatory evolution} (Biol.), a theory of evolution which holds that the… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5saltatory chorea — any chorea, such as Sydenham chorea, that involves involuntary jumping or dancing movements. See also saltatory spasm, under spasm …

    Medical dictionary

  • 6Spasm — A brief, automatic jerking movement. A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the muscle clenching tightly. A spasm of the coronary artery can cause angina. Spasms in various types of tissue may be caused by stress, medication, over exercise, or …

    Medical dictionary

  • 7saltatory — Pertaining to, or characterized by, saltation. * * * sal·ta·to·ry sal tə .tōr ē, sȯl , .tȯr adj proceeding by leaps rather than by gradual transitions <saltatory conduction of impulses in myelinated nerve fibers> * * * sal·ta·to·ry… …

    Medical dictionary

  • 8saltatory tic — see under spasm …

    Medical dictionary

  • 9dancing spasm — saltatory s …

    Medical dictionary

  • 10Disease — Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the… …

    Medical dictionary